Absorption heat transformers and an industrial application

Abstract

Absorption Heat Transformer (AHT) systems are devices with the unique capability of raising the temperature of low or moderately warm waste heat sources to more useful levels. The study includes an investigation to analyze the AHT systems using water-lithium bromide solutions with water as the refrigerant. First, a basic AHT system was described, the operating sequence was explained and thermodynamic system analysis was presented. Next, an application of the AHT system to an industrial company was analyzed. A computer code was prepared to determine the effect of different parameters on the AHT system performance and the results were presented in graphical form. Additionally, it was shown that how the basic AHT system could be modified to increase the COP and the heat transfer at the absorber, in other words, the hot process water produced. The system performance data were presented in a tabular form for different system modifications from the base system for comparison. It was proven that, by applying different modifications, the COP could be increased by 14.1%, the heat transfer at the absorber by 158.5% and the hot process water produced by 3.59% compared to the basic ANT system.